From half-cups to full-cups and from push-ups to plunges, it can be difficult to work out which bras will fit best on you. But if you’re full-busted, there’s one bra you absolutely have to know about – the three-part cup bra.

What is a three-part cup bra?

It looks just like it sounds, with cups that are divided by seams into three parts. Technically, a few different bra styles fit this definition (such as a bra cup made from three vertical panels), but when you hear a bra fitter or lingerie blogger talk about 3-part cups they’ll be referring to a design with both a horizontal and vertical seam, diving the cup into two bottom sections and one top one. The Carole Unlined Wire Bra and Enora Minimizer Bra bras are a couple of examples where you can see this clearly.

Why are three-part cup bras ideal for fuller busts?

To understand why this bra style is so perfect for larger breasts, it helps to understand what role seams play in a bra’s design. Partly, they are there to reinforce and strengthen the fabric, which is why seams are common on D+ bras in the first place. Even unlined seamed bras can be surprisingly supportive.

Seams are also there to provide shaping. Vertical and horizontal ones do different things. Vertical seams ‘direct’ the breast tissue upwards, increasing the amount of lift you get. Horizontal ones, on the other hand, allow the cups to be deeper (i.e. curve out further forwards), creating a more rounded shape.

A bra with vertical seams alone can be very lifting, but be too shallow for a full bust and/or have a flattening effect from the side. That’s why the 3-part cup with both seam types is perfect for larger, heavier breasts – it boosts lift and support while also ensuring there’s plenty of room in the cup for a projected bust.

Variations on the three-part cup bra

Because this is just a style of cup seaming, it’s not limited to a specific bra shape; there are 3-part full cup bras, 3-part demi cup bras, 3-part cup minimizer bras, and so on. So you can find one that’s right for you.

Some 3-part cup bras also have a side sling or side support panel, as seen on the Mariela Unlined Wire Bra. This functions to bring the breast tissue inwards towards the centre of the body. Other 3-part cup bras are overlaid with decorative or support-boosting details, such as the ‘petals’ at the base of the cups on the Cora Unlined Longline Bra. However, on both of these bras the basic structure is still the same. You can expect a lifted, rounded shape from both.

Finally, when you get into G+ cup sizes, it’s not uncommon to see four- or even five-part cup bras which have added vertical seams. These basically function the same way, only with the increased lift and support that an especially-heavy bust needs.

Do three-part cup bras suit everyone who’s full-busted?

Many D+ wearers swear by the shape and support that a 3-part cup bra gives them, which is why they’re such a common style among full-bust brands. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re the best bra style for everyone who’s in this size range.

As mentioned, the horizontal seam makes this cup style a deep one. That means it’s not going to be the best fit on someone with shallow breasts, who may find that the top edge gapes or wrinkles. Shallow breasts may be more common among smaller cup sizes, but full-yet-shallow busts exist too. If in doubt, trying a few different 3-part cup bras out yourself is the way to go, so hit up your local lingerie boutique and experiment!

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

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Whether you measured yourself at home or had an in-store fitting, once you’ve found your bra size you might think that that’s it – if you always buy that size, the bras will always fit. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

For one thing, bra sizing can vary between brands. But even if you have a favorite brand that you stick to, you can expect some of their pieces to fit you better than others. That’s because bra size is only half the equation; you also need to choose bra styles to suit your breast shape. Remember, two sets of 34Ds can look very different!

Today’s article is all about athletic breasts – what they are, and which bra styles will work best on them.

What are athletic breasts?

Athletic breasts are so called because they’re more common on people with an athletic build – but you don’t need to be super sporty to have them! Essentially, athletic breasts have a higher muscle to fat content ratio than average, which makes them feel firmer. It also means they tend to be on the smaller side. Together, these two factors mean that athletic breasts don’t usually need a lot of support.

Athletic breasts also tend to have their volume spread out over a wider base, making them flatter and less rounded. They are a type of shallow breast.

Fit problems of athletic breasts

Just like other types of shallow breast, this shape is likely to experience cup gaping or wrinkling. The breast doesn’t always stick out far enough to fill out the cups, especially on the upper half.

People with athletic breasts may also complain that their underwires always dig in. That’s because the root of this breast (the area where is attaches to the chest) is quite wide, and the curve of the underwire is very often shaped for a narrower breast. It might sit on top of or press into the breast issue at the side.

Finally, although it’s not a fit issue as such, some people with this breast shape may feel like they appear ‘flat chested’ and crave a rounder, fuller look.

Ideal bra styles for athletic breasts

Demi bras

Demi bras cover the lower half of the breast only, so they’re less likely to gape at the top (unlike a full-cup bra which is taller). Balconette bras are a specific style of demi with a horizontal neckline, so look out for that style name too.

Push-up and vertical-seamed bras

Push-up bras are also low cut, but heavily padded at the base (and sometimes sides) of the cup. The breast tissue sits on top of the padding and so gets lifted higher. They’re the perfect way to create the illusion of a fuller bust!

Vertical seams on a bra boost lift too, so they’re something you might want to look out for as a push-up alternative if you prefer to wear unlined bras.

Bras without horizontal seams

However, avoid horizontal seams. These don’t add lift; instead, they’re there to make the cups deeper. On shallow, athletic breasts, that will only make the bra much more likely to wrinkle and gape.

Bralettes

Not bothered about making your breasts look bigger? If you just want a great fit and total comfort, a wireless bralette could be your perfect lingerie match. No digging underwires, and the stretchy fabric means it will lie flush against your skin. They’re less supportive than wired bras, but then athletic breasts tend to be quite perky anyway.

Plunge bras

Plunge bras have much shorter wires than demi and full cup bras, so they’re less likely to be incompatible with your breast shape. Look for plunges that are cut low-ish even on the outer side of the cup and/or are made of stretch fabric, to avoid problems with gaping.

If you have athletic breasts, what’s the biggest fit problem that you have? Do you have a favorite bra style that fixes it?

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

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Many people have known the pain of an underwire breaking in a much-loved bra – sometimes literal pain, if it happened while they were wearing it! And while that wire is damaged, the bra becomes unwearable. Broken underwires can be dangerously sharp, or at the very least just annoyingly pointy and proddy.

You could simply remove the underwires altogether, but this will affect the fit. Underwires make sure the breast tissue stays contained with the cup, and provide the sturdy base required for effective support. Still, it may be an option if you’d rather turn the bra into a sleep one than throw it away.

If you’re really heartbroken about losing your favorite bra though, read on to find out if it can be repaired, and if so, how to do it.

Why do bra underwires break?

First, let’s talk about why this might have happened, so you can hopefully prevent it from occurring again in another bra.

Low bra/underwire quality

If the bra was a cheap one or is just poorly-made, it may be using low quality underwires. The best quality ones are flat, made from properly-tempered steel, and have a plastic coating. All of these reduce the likelihood of it deforming or breaking. But rounded wires, uncoated ones, improperly-tempered ones, and even plastic ones also exist.

The brand may also have used a low-quality underwire casing, the fabric channel it’s placed inside. Well-made bras use a sturdy fabric that the wire can’t easily wear through.

Machine washing and tumble drying

Not taking good care of your lingerie can lead to broken underwires, even in a good-quality bra. It’s best to gently hand-wash your delicates. If you do use the machine, pop them inside a mesh wash bag which stops the bras getting tangled up with other clothing and twisted, straining the wires. And always avoid the tumble dryer. Not only is it terrible for your bra’s elastic, it can make steel underwires more brittle too.

Wearing the wrong bra size

Underwires aren’t completely rigid; they’re designed to flex around the ribcage when you put the bra on. However, if your cup size is too small (i.e.you’re trying to pull them around more breast tissue than they were designed for) or your band size is too small and therefore ultra-tight, they’ll get pulled too much. That stresses the metal, which can cause it to splinter or snap.

When is a broken underwire not fixable?

When people talk about a broken underwire, often what they mean is that it has popped out of its casing. That is often fixable, because the underwire itself is still intact.

However, when the underwire itself is broken, you’re out of luck. If it’s bent, you could try to maneuver it back into shape, but it’s difficult to do this perfectly without professional tools. Plus, that bent patch will now be weaker, making it more susceptible to bending again (and even more easily next time).

And if the wire has actually snapped, it’s definitely time to throw it away. Snapped underwires can be incredibly sharp. Don’t try to tape it back together – not only could it be sharp enough to eventually break through, the support will have been compromised anyway. Two pieces of underwire held together by tape are not as strong as one intact wire!

But wait, can’t you just replace a broken underwire?

Theoretically, yes, you could take the damaged underwire out of your bra and put a new one in. However, underwires come in so many lengths, shapes, and sizes that you’ll have a hard time finding a perfect match at your local haberdashery. Some brands even manufacture their own underwires. You can’t simply buy another ’34D’ wire and expect it to be identical.

The pieces that make up the cup will have been designed to match the specific underwire too. A replacement wire may not follow quite the same curve as the existing underwire channel, or may not fill the entire length of it. And that could alter how the cups fit.

How to fix an underwire that has popped out

If your underwire has simply broken free of its casing at one end, it should be fixable. First, push the underwire back inside the channel. Then do the following:

Sewing fix

Sew repeated stitches over the tear in the underwire channel, closing the hole. If in doubt about how many stitches to do, err on the side of too many rather than too few. Optionally, sew a little patch of soft but sturdy fabric over the tear too, to really lock that underwire in place.

No-sew fix

Head to your local pharmacy and pick up some moleskin, an adhesive, felt-like fabric meant for cushioning the feet. It will adhere well to your bra too! Cut a strip large enough to generously cover the tear, remove the backing, and stick it on. It should stay in place throughout lots of future washes.

What do you do when an underwire pops out – attempt to repair it, replace the bra, or keep it with the wires removed?

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

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When it comes to finding our perfect bra fit, many of us don’t consider anything beyond the band and cup sizes. However, important as those two are, they’re not the entire picture. Breasts come in different shapes as well as different sizes, and you’ll get the best fit in a bra that’s shaped like your own body.

For example, wide-set breasts need a bra with wide-set cups, and close-set breasts need cups that are close together. How shallow or deep your breasts are matters too. This article focuses on ‘projected’ breasts, and explains how to find a bra that will fit them well.

What are projected breasts?

Projected breasts are the opposite of shallow breasts – deep breasts, essentially, although the term ‘projected’ is more common. They are projected in the sense that when you bend over forwards or wear a supportive bra, they stick out quite far from your ribcage. Note that when you are braless, it’s possible that gravity will mean your breasts hang down more than they jut out forwards. The important thing is how they look when supported.

Projected breasts are often described as being very full or rounded. They are more common among larger sizes, although smaller-busted people can have them too. They’re also very likely to be your breast shape if you have implants.

Fit problems of projected breasts

People with projected breasts are pretty lucky, in that many bras are made to fit this kind of shape. You’re certainly less likely in general to have fit issues than someone with shallow breasts.

If you do have a fit problem, however, it’s probably going to be cup overspill. If you wear a bra that’s too shallow a shape for you, it will cut in and your breast tissue will end up bulging over the top. Also, because your bust sticks out quite far, a common complaint is shirt buttons that look strained or are constantly popping open.

Ideal bra styles for projected breasts

Horizontal seams

Bra seams have different functions depending on the direction they’re going in. A vertical seam is there to add lift. A horizontal seam, on the other hand, adds depth to the cup, so this is exactly what you need! It’s fine if the bra has both vertical and horizontal seams, by the way.

Narrow underwires

I am not referring to the thickness of the wire itself, but the curve it follows. Some underwires have a wider U shape than others – think of it as a cross-section of a cup versus a bowl. The part of your breasts that joins your chest is called the root, and projected breasts tend to have a smaller one. That’s why they stick out, because the breast tissue is not being spread out over a larger surface area.

A 36F with a narrow wire will typically have a deeper cup than a 36F with a wider one, so that they can both hold the same volume. Different brands use different wire styles as standard, so head to a store to compare a few or ask a bra fitter for recommendations.

Minimizer bras

If your problem isn’t finding bras that fit so much as it is finding shirts that won’t pop open, you might want to consider a minimizer bra. These compress your breasts down, making them flatter and wider. In other words, they reduce breast projection!

If you have projected breasts, what’s your biggest fit hang-up? And what are your preferred bra styles?

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

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Whatever size or shape your breasts are, there’s something else they will be too – slightly different. Just like eyes or hands, no one has two perfectly identical breasts. On many people, however, these minor variations are imperceptible.

What are asymmetrical breasts?

When the difference between your breasts becomes noticeable, we call that having asymmetrical or uneven breasts. The larger breast may hang a little lower, or simply look a little fuller. Even then, it’s not always an issue. If your breasts are only different by half a cup size or less, you may not have even noticed!

The problem mostly comes when breasts are uneven by a cup size or more because, of course, bras are made assuming that you’ll wear the same letter on either side. Although asymmetrical breasts are very normal, that doesn’t make them any less frustrating to deal with when it comes to finding a bra that fits.

Fit problems of asymmetrical breasts

If you have asymmetrical breasts, you’ll have found yourself frequently faced with one of two problems: cup overflow, or cup gaping. It all depends on whether you’ve been buying bras to fit the smaller or larger breast. If your bra fits the smaller breast, it will dig in on the larger one. And if it fits the larger one, there’ll be excess room on the other side (leading to gaping or wrinkling, depending on the bra style).

So how do you find a bra that fits both breasts? You could buy bras to fit the larger breast, and then have them professionally tailored to take in the other cup. Your local lingerie boutique may be able to recommend a seamstress. For a cheaper, hassle-free solution though, try one of the bra styles below.

Ideal bra styles for asymmetrical breasts

Stretch fabrics

Bras with stretchy cups will mold to whatever size and shape you have, so unless your cup size difference is especially pronounced, they will probably fit smoothly over both breasts. Remember that you can adjust each shoulder strap a little differently to tailor the fit of each cup.

However, because stretchy fabrics are less supportive, this solution is best suited to those with smaller chests or who don’t mind a lack of lift.

Molded cups

Molded cups hold their rounded shape both off and on the body, rather than molding to your body. Unliked an unlined bra, they won’t wrinkle if not completely filled. That means that they’ll create an evenly-shaped silhouette and, under clothing at least, disguise your asymmetry.

Remember to always fit the bra to your larger breast though, since cup overspill can be very noticeable under a fitted top!

Removable padding

Removable padded inserts are an asymmetrical girl’s best friend. The designer may have intended for them to be worn together, giving you an all-over boost, but there’s nothing to stop you keeping the padding in on one side only.

Most lingerie stores will sell ‘bra cookies’, gel or foam pads that you can pop inside a bra you already own. The benefit of buying a bra that comes with its own removable padding however is that it’s more subtle – there’s a built-in pocket for that pad, so it won’t fall out when your bra comes off.

How uneven are your breasts? Does it affect how bras fit you and the styles you end up choosing?

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

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Does it feel like you’ve tried everything to get a bra that fits, including multiple band and cup sizes, and you’re still not quite there? The issue may not be one of size – it may be one of shape. Breasts and bras both come in a huge variety of different shapes, and the key to a perfect fit is to find the bra size and shape that best match what you’ve got.

One of the most helpful steps can be to work out whether you’ve got projected or shallow breasts. Just because two 34D cups hold the same overall volume, that doesn’t mean that they’re identical shapes. One bra may have cups that are deeper than the other, and if you’ve got shallow breasts then that’s going to cause fit problems.

What are shallow breasts?

Breast depth refers to how far out they protrude from your ribcage. Shallow breasts, as the name suggests, don’t stick out far. Although they have the same amount of total tissue as a same-sized pair of deeper breasts, the shallow ones have a wider base and often begin higher on the chest too, spreading that volume out over a larger surface area.

Imagine that you’ve got a little ball of playdough – that represents a deep/projected breast. Now imagine that you squish it down a bit with your finger. There’s still the same amount of playdough there, but now it’s flatter and wider. That’s how a shallow breast is.

Shallow breasts are much more common among the smaller cup sizes, however it is still possible to be full-busted and have them. When you’re standing side-on to a mirror and braless, would you describe your breasts as round? If not, they’re probably shallow.

Fit problems of shallow breasts

By far the most common fit issues people with shallow breasts face is cup gaping. When a designer creates a bra, they have to make an assumption about how far out your breasts stick from your body. So when yours protrude less than that, there’ll be a gap.

Although gaping cups can be a sign that you simply need a smaller cup size, if the current underwire fits around the base of your breast just fine then sizing down could mean the new, smaller underwire digs in. It’s the cup depth that’s the problem, not the cup size.

Wrinkling is another related fit issue. If your bra cups look wrinkled or feel baggy even when the top edge is lying flush against your skin, that’s a sign that the cup is too deep for you.

Ideal bra styles for shallow breasts

Bras without horizontal seams

Bra seams do different things depending on which direction they’re going in. A vertical seam is there to provide lift. Horizontal seams, on the other hand, make the cup deeper, so they are something you want to avoid. Look for bra cups that are either seam-free or have vertical seams only.

Shorter cups

Although this breast shape is shallow all over, it tends to be particularly shallow towards the top. Rather than a suddenly curving outwards from your chest, shallow breasts follow a more gradual slope down to the nipple. Full cup bras end high on the chest and will therefore gape because there isn’t enough breast tissue up there to fill them out.

Instead, look for bras labeled as ‘demi’, ‘half cup’ or ‘balconette’. These all stop slightly above the nipple, covering only the part of your breast that tends to be the fullest/deepest.

Stretch fabrics

Stiff fabrics – including molded cups – are not very forgiving. If you don’t fill them out properly, they will gape or wrinkle. Stretch fabrics however can accommodate a range of shapes and sizes, and are more likely to lie flush against your skin.

That’s not to say that people with shallow breasts can never wear a padded bra. In fact, some prefer them because the padding creates the illusion of extra fullness. Just be sure to look for one with short, horizontal seam-free cups for the best chance of it fitting you.

If you have shallow breasts, leave a comment and let me know what your best-fitting bra styles are!

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

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Summer has arrived to the Northern Hemisphere, bringing along with it floaty dresses, ice-pops, festival season, and… the dreaded boob sweat. While that last one may be completely normal, especially for those with fuller busts it can be a real problem. And not just an embarrassing one, but a painful one too if the excess sweating leads to chafing and a rash.

Plus, just like underarm sweat can stain a shirt, boob sweat can stain your bras. We didn’t spend ages hunting down the prettiest and best-fitting ones for that to happen!

Nothing should stop you enjoying summer to its fullest, least of all your chest. Luckily, there are some things you can do to reduce this problem.

Here are 7 ways to deal with boob sweat:

Unlined bras

All of us switch from winter clothes to summer ones, so why would you keep wearing the same lingerie year-round? When it’s hot out you need garments that are going to keep you cool, and a piece of thick foam wrapped around your breasts probably isn’t the answer.

Try switching out your padded and molded bras for unlined ones – they feel light and airy, yet can be just as (or in some cases, more) supportive!

Breathable fabrics

Certain fabrics let your skin breathe better than others. It’s usually the case that synthetic fibers such as polyester can trap moisture against the skin, while natural fibers such as cotton, silk and bamboo will not.

However, the fabric type matters too – nylon, for example, is a man-made fiber but when it’s woven into a mesh or lace it still lets lots of air through.

Moisture-wicking sports bras

However much you’re sweating during that picnic in the park, you’re going to sweat a whole lot more when you’re jogging round it! Due to the combination of sweat and movement, workouts are when you’re most likely to get chafing. So it’s especially important to pick a sports bra that’s breathable.

Look out for features such as mesh panels, high support (to reduce breast movement), and the term ‘moisture wicking’ in the description. This means it’s a high-tech material that actively moves water away from your skin. Even polyester can be great if it’s moisture-wicking.

Get a bra fitting

The fold below larger breasts can easily overheat, but a good bra lifts them up off your ribcage to keep this area nice and breezy. Look for a supportive, wired style that has vertical seaming for lots of lift. And get a bra fitting to double check you’re in the correct since, since a too-large band means the bra won’t be able to hoist your breasts up properly.

Bra liners

Not only is boob sweat a normal problem, it’s so common that products have been developed especially to combat it. One of those is the bra liner – a band of fabric that goes below the center-front of your bra, creating a barrier between you and it.

Be sure to look for a bra liner in a breathable fabric, since some have been designed purely with underwire discomfort (and not sweating) in mind.

Deodorants and powders

Most of us are used to putting deodorant on our underarms each morning, but when your breasts are sweating just as much, why not there too? You could use the same one, but boob deodorants are actually a real thing! Alternatively, you can keep the area dry with a sprinkling of corn starch or baby powder.

Keep wipes handy

Sometimes it’s just so swelteringly hot out that try hard as we might, we can’t eliminate sweating altogether. As a backup, pop a packet of wet wipes in your handbag so that you can nip to the bathroom and freshen up whenever you need to.

If you suffer from a bad case of summer boob sweat, how do you deal with it? Leave a comment and let me know which solution works best for you.

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

There are lots of reasons that two 36Gs may not fit the same, from international size conversions to one brand’s sizing running smaller than another’s. But one of the reasons has nothing to do with the bras’ actual sizes – it’s that different bra shapes fit more or less successfully on certain bodies.

If you’re having trouble finding a bra that fits, it’s helpful to pay attention to the styles you’re trying. How a balconette bra sits on the body is very different to how a full-cup one does, which is in turn nothing like a plunge bra! You need a bra that is the right size, of course, but also one that matches your particular breast shape.

Today, we’re specifically covering tips and bra styles for people with close-set breasts.

What are close set breasts?

As the name suggests, these are breasts that have very little space between them. They may even be touching. Try standing up without a bra on, and place a finger flat against your sternum. If it’s touching your breasts on both sides, they are close-set.

Being able to easily create a cleavage line is another sign that you likely have close-set breasts. However, a handful of people have a condition called symmastia (often natural, more rarely a complication of getting implants). This is where your breast tissue is actually joined together at the center – they’re as ‘touching’ as breasts can get, but there’s no defined separation/cleavage between them.

Fit problems of close set breasts

Fit issues relating to close-set breasts are all concentrated around the cleavage area. You’ll likely have trouble finding a bra with a gore (the panel between the cups) that lays flat against your sternum, because there’s just not enough space for it. It will end up buckling or being pushed away from your body, and may be uncomfortable.

Another complaint of close-set breasts is sometimes having a ‘uniboob’ or ‘shelf-bust’ appearance, and wanting a bra that will separate your breasts out a bit more. And, though it’s not a fit problem as such, an unfortunate side effect of breasts that touch can be chafing or excessive sweating between them.

Ideal bra styles for close set breasts

Narrow gores

With little to no space between your breasts, it makes sense that you need a bra with minimal distance between the cups. Look for bras where the centre panel is shaped like a skinny triangle, and the tops of the underwire channels are touching.

Plunge bras

Depending on just how close-set your breasts are (and whether you have symmastia), having any underwires at all between your breasts may cause discomfort. In this case, try a plunge bra which has a very low gore. The wires in a plunge bra are more J than U shaped, so they don’t come up very high at the centre. Plus, plunges are a great choice to flaunt your natural cleavage!

Underwired bras (for separation)

If your primary complaint is having boobs that look ‘smooshed together’ or which rub uncomfortably, be sure to pick a wired bra. Provided that the underwires fit well and aren’t lying on top of breast tissue rather than around it, they hold your breasts inside their separate cups, keeping them apart.

Wireless bras (for comfort)

If on the other hand your problem is painful underwires, and you don’t want to wear a plunge bra, a wireless bra or bralette provides a comfy alternative. Close-set breasts do tend to be on the full side, so if that’s the case for you then check these tips for finding a bralette that’s as supportive as possible.

What are your favorite or most comfortable bra styles, as someone with close-set breasts?

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Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

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Ever wondered why it’s so hard to find a bra that fits? One of the big reasons is that no two sets of same-sized breasts are really identical. They might be a slightly different shape, more or less firm, or placed close together on one person and spaced apart on another. And all of these different factors affect whether that bra is going to fit you like a glove, or just fit you ‘well enough’.

When you’re bra shopping and on the hunt for the perfect fit, you need to know more than just your bra size. You also need to know what shape your breasts are, and the bra styles that will suit that best.

Today’s article is all about wide-set breasts, and the bra styles and design details that work best on them.

What are wide set breasts?

Not only are wide-set breasts not touching, but they are separated by a sizeable gap. Try placing your fingers flat on your sternum, between your breasts. If you can fit 3 or more fingers there, you have wide-set breasts.

Some wide-set breasts are what is called ‘splayed’, also colloquially referred to as an ‘East-West’ shape. This is where your breasts are pointing outwards away from each other, creating a wide triangle of skin between them. However, it’s also possible to have splayed breasts that begin close together and then head off in different directions, so the finger check is really the key to working out if yours are wide-set.

Fit problems of wide set breasts

Many people with wide-set breasts complain that they can never find a bra that gives them cleavage. Unfortunately, getting wide-set breasts to touch is often impossible, especially on smaller cup sizes. There are however bra styles that will push them a bit closer together.

Because wide-set and splayed breasts naturally have the bulk of their volume towards the outer side of the cup, you may have issues with cups laying flush there but gaping at the center-front. You may also experience underwire discomfort at the underarm, if the wire ends up sitting on top of breast tissue there.

Ideal bra styles for wide set breasts

Side supports

Side support in a bra can take the form of an internal sling or a seamed panel at the outer edge of the cup. It serves to push your breast tissue inwards towards your sternum, creating a more centered shape. They also reinforce this outer edge, making it more difficult for your breast tissue to escape the cup here.

You could also try a push-up bra that has padding towards the outer side of the cup as well as at the base of it. This has a push in effect, with the goal of boosting cleavage.

Wide gores

The gore is the piece of fabric that joins the cups together. Some bras have very narrow gores, but if you have wide-set breasts you want one that’s wide enough to fill that gap. The bra will better mimic and follow the shape of your body – the cups will begin where your breasts do and not before, minimizing the likelihood of them gaping.

You could try looking out for a front-fastening bra. Not only do these pull your breasts inwards, they always have a wider-than-usual gore because the closure takes up some space.

Plunge bras

As mentioned further up, people with wide-set breasts can have issues with cup gaping near the sternum, where their breast tissue is less full. Plunge bras offer a convenient and stylish way around this, since the cut of the cups means it primarily covers the fuller, outer side of the breast.

Stretch bralettes

Remember that if you are struggling to find a bra with underwires that are comfy, you could always opt for wireless. Not only can this improve comfort, but soft, stretchy cups have a more forgiving fit in general and hence are unlikely to gape. The downside is that this style of bra is less supportive.

Bonus tip: scoop and swoop

It’s always a good idea to scoop and swoop after putting your bra on, whatever breast shape you have. However, it’s especially useful when it comes to wide-set breasts – you want to ensure that your breast is fully inside the cup at that outer edge, which will improve comfort and create a more centered look.

If your breasts are wide-set, which bra styles or features work best for you?

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

Happy bra shopping!

Featured image lingerie:

Do you struggle to find the perfect bra fit? If you’re convinced that you know your correct bra size, and yet more still fit poorly than they do well, the issue could be the style of bra you’re trying. From full cups to demi cups and from wide gores to narrow ones, every bra will fit best on a particular breast shape. To find one that truly fits you like a glove, you need the bra to be not just the right size but the right design for your body too.

This article focuses specifically on bra tips for people with ‘full on top’ breasts. Read on to find out if that’s you.

What are full on top breasts?

As the name suggests, breasts with this shape are their fullest on the upper half. They are firm and rounded right from where they begin on the décolletage, but have less tissue below the nipple than above it. This means that your nipples will be lower down on your breast, potentially pointing downward. It is, unsurprisingly, the opposite shape to full-on-bottom breasts.

You’re more likely to have full-on-top breasts if you wear a large cup size, or if you’re young, since we tend to lose upper fullness as we age. Although that can be regained through a breast lift or implants, most breast surgeons aim to create a profile that’s rounded all over (an ‘evenly full’ breast shape that we’ll cover in another article).

Fit problems of full on top breasts

Because this breast shape is less full towards the bottom, you may have issues with the lower portion of the cup wrinkling or feeling loose. However, a much more common fit issue is what’s jokingly called ‘quad-boob’. This is where your full upper breast spills over the top of the cup rather than fitting neatly inside in, leading to an obvious bump (as if you had two breasts on either side rather than one).

This type of cup overspillage could simply mean that you need a larger cup size. However, if you know you have full on top breasts, one of the below bra styles may well fit you fine with no change to the band or cup size.

Ideal bra styles for full on top breasts

Taller cups

Bra cups that stop at the mid-breast or lower, where there is a lot of unsupported breast tissue still above that, are the most likely to cut in on this shape. Choose a taller cup style instead – a full-cup bra is designed to encase all or most of the breast.

Stretch fabrics

Stretch-fabric cups are very forgiving. They work great on all sorts of different breast types, since the fabric conforms well to whatever shape you have. Whereas a rigid cup edge can cut in on full on top breasts, an elastic one will probably just stretch to fit.

An all-over stretch cup will accommodate both a shallow lower-breast and a fuller upper-breast. The downside however is that the stretchier the cup is, the less supportive it’s going to be. So especially if you are full-busted, you may prefer to choose a bra that has a stretchy trim across the top only.

Deeper cups

Some bra cups are very deep (‘projected’), while others have the same volume overall but are wider and shallower. If you try to fit a firm, full on top breast into a shallow cup, it will get stuck too high up – think of it like trying to cram an orange into a glass. It won’t ever reach the bottom!

This can lead to both an empty space at the lower cup, and overspill at the top. What you need is a deeper cup, such as the Parfait Charlotte bra. A good bra fitter will be able to offer more recommendations.

Bonus tip: bra inserts

Generally speaking, full on top breasts and push-up padding don’t get along. This will only lift your breast tissue up higher, creating an even more full-on-top shape and exacerbating an overspill problem.

However, if you own a bra that is wrinkling or collapsing at the base of the cup, a little padding can fill up that excess space. Most lingerie boutiques will sell separate bra cookies/inserts for this purpose.

If you have full on top breasts, what are your favourite bra styles? And which ones just never seem to fit you?

We Highly Recommend

Whether you’re shopping for new everyday bras or lingerie for a special occasion, it’s always a good idea to seek out a second opinion. We know how hard it is to find bras that fit well and feel good, especially when you’re doing it on your own. If you’ve ever felt unsure about your bra size or you just don’t know where to go to find good bras, it’s time to let a bra fitter help.

Many specialty lingerie boutiques offer bra fittings. Their expert bra fitters will take the pain and frustration out of bra shopping and do all the work for you. Even better, their product knowledge can save you time and money. Plus, they know where all of the best bras are hiding.

If you’ve struggled with finding bras in the right size, it’s time to make a change. Visit our specialty store locator to find a store near you and schedule an appointment.

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